03 AUGUST 2015

John Lumpkin has been a fan of boxing for over 30 years. He has a diverse background with experience and advanced education in the fields of technology, business, and law which he uses to cover the sport. His articles frequently address boxing from odd angles and unusual topics in a continual effort to inspire readers to expand their horizons.

By John Lumpkin: Being the pound for pound best in the world does not necessarily translate to being able to beat anyone at any weight. It is simply the recognition of capability relative to weight, so this does not mean that Pacquiao should be favored to win.

There have been a lot of criticisms about the various boxing organizations that provide championships and rankings, so much so that many boxing publications and television stations have been promoting the idea that we ignore these organizations.

By John Lumpkin: There have been several articles floating around criticizing Oscar De La Hoya’s recent escapades; describing him as an “Event Fighter” in reference to his rather sporadic schedule. It is an accurate criticism, but somewhat unfair because boxing today is an event sport.

By John Lumpkin: On December 6, 2008, Manny Pacquiao, the consensus choice for pound for pound king, will be taking on an opponent whose last nine fights have occurred in divisions 3 and 4 weight classes higher than the highest weight class he has ever participated in.

Walk into any sporting goods store in the land and see if you purchase anything related to boxing. At best, you might be able to locate a heavy bag, some training gloves and maybe a speed bag. What you will not find is T-shirt, ball cap, jacket or any other item that would help promote the sport. The reason you will not find these things is that boxing has no representative.

Joe Calzaghe did what was expected of him this past Saturday when he dominated the badly faded Roy Jones Jr. The difference between these fighter’s capabilities at this stage in their career is staggering.

First, Hopkins upsets Pavlik and then Darchinyan trumps Mijares. It was a surprising turn of events for most writers in the sport. The question is how is it that so many people who know the game so well were so wrong?

Being a referee is not easy. It is a job where people judge you by their inability to see you, yet there is nowhere to hide. To meet this criterion, you are largely dependent on the fighters and their corners voluntarily following the rules when it is not always in their best interest to do so.

Most of today’s fans bristle at the comparisons people make about their boxing heroes chances against the fighter’s of yesteryear. In most other sports, there has been definitive upward progress of the athletes capabilities often backed by firm statistical data. Boxing, however, seems to have gone in another direction as many of today’s fighter’s lack the skills of their predecessors.